Research Specialist - Rutter Lab

We are currently looking for a talented, self-motivated Research Specialist for an important role working in the laboratory of Dr. Jared Rutter at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Rutter lab is interested in discovering new ways to understand metabolism and how it integrates with cell behavior. They are currently exploring two central areas. First, as much of metabolic control is enacted at the level of mitochondria—in ways that are mostly not understood—they initiated a project to functionally annotate the eukaryotic mitochondrial proteome. To date, this effort has elucidated the genetic basis of two human diseases and several fundamental mitochondrial functions. Second, they are leveraging this knowledge to explore the connection between metabolism and cellular behaviors. Specifically, they want to determine how alterations in distinct metabolic pathways can impact cell fate decisions both in discrete stem cell niches as well as in human diseases such as cancer and heart failure. To facilitate this undertaking, they are developing several experimental and computational platforms for the identification and characterization of novel features of metabolism. For more information about the Rutter lab and their work, please visit http://rutter.biochem.utah.edu/  

As the Research Specialist, you will have the opportunity to work within a newly developed platform using mass spectrometry to examine purified proteins and metabolites in order to gain further understanding of how metabolites regulate pathways. More information about this specific project can be found by visiting https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.28.458030v1. We’re looking for an organized, professional scientist with great communication skills who works very well independently, but would equally enjoy working as part of a team within the Rutter lab itself and as part of a larger inter-laboratory collaboration with other groups at the University of Utah and with universities and research facilities globally. The Rutter lab is also open to considering applicants who would prefer to join the team as a Postdoctoral Associate.

Essential Duties:

• Manage, operate, and maintain liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

   

• Coordinate project elements with other labs and collaborators, including refining techniques and finding novel ways to obtain more data from the platform.

   

• Collect, analyze, and present data during regular lab team meetings.

   

• Supervise and train research technicians and other junior-level lab staff as needed.

   

Qualifications:

Education

• A master’s degree in biochemistry or a related discipline is required. A Ph.D. would be a plus.

   

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working in a laboratory environment and analyzing data is required.

   

• Experience with mass spectrometry is preferred but not required.

   

• Experience with protein purification would be a plus.

   

• Experience with enzyme assays/enzymology would be a plus.

   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

   

• Excellent organizational skills, time management skills, and project management skills.

   

• Excellent attention to detail with high degree of accuracy.

   

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

   

• Ability to be adaptable to accommodate shifting priorities and meet hard deadlines.

   

• Ability to take initiative and identify areas of improvement within current processes to increase efficiency.

   

• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with a wide variety of people from all backgrounds.

   

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.